Opportunities for CollaborationBuilding bridges between surveying, engineering, and GIS

More than 300 surveyors, engineers, and GIS professionals attended the Esri Survey & Engineering GIS Summit in San Diego, California. Held in conjunction with the Esri International User Conference from August 2 to 5, 2008, this is the only event of its kind. It addresses the latest geospatial trends, challenges, and solutions in the surveying and engineering industries.

Two keynote speakers addressed attendees about developments in the geospatial sector that impact surveyors and engineers. Colonel David W. Madden, commander of the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) Wing at the Space and Missile Systems Center, talked about upcoming technical changes with GPS and their benefits. Madden is responsible for the multinational, multiservice development of all GPS space, satellite, and ground segments.

The other keynote speaker, Timothy C. McCormick, is the senior vice president of Dewberry's Hazard Engineering and Geospatial Services Group. He discussed the role of GIS in a tech-savvy engineering firm. McCormick is an engineer and certified floodplain manager responsible for more than $30 million in work annually and a 220-person staff that provides GIS, GPS, remote sensing, and other services to the government. Under his leadership, Dewberry built its GeoFIRM flood mapping solution.

Esri staff led discussions on advancements in GIS and how the technology is creating more complete business solutions with capabilities for project planning and execution using advanced data management and analysis. The summit's technical workshops and hands-on learning lab gave attendees the opportunity to try out GIS software such as ArcGIS Survey Analyst.

Summit sessions concentrated on how others use GIS to optimize core data management business functions, where GIS is headed, and how GIS can make surveyors and engineers more competitive. Heads of industry-leading organizations tackled the complex professional issues during the industry panel discussion Machine ControlWhere and What Are the Geospatial Professional's Boundaries?

Next year's Survey & Engineering GIS Summit will be held in the same location but a little earlier: July 11–14, 2009.